BIG BATTLE ON THE EASTERN FRONT.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2556, 2 September 1915, Page 5

BIG BATTLE ON THE EASTERN FRONT.

RUSSIANS HOLDING THE REPORTED HUGE LOSSES TO THE ENEMY /.. , , , By Telesraph—Press Aeiociation-GojirrlEhl 1 (Rec. 9, 4 p.m.)- ' T - ;.' Ceneva, September I. A message from Lodz states that Field-Marshal von Hindenburg has launclied a million -mqn,- including all liis cavalry, against the Russian positions on the Niomen aud the/Bobr. A 'big battle is raging near Friedrichstadt' and the Ruseians are-inflicting enormous losses. 1 ' ' . . ' GERMANS CLAIM STRATEGIC COUP. v . .(Rec. September 1, 10 p.m.) ... . , n.. ;-. ; London, September 1. ' : A wireless _ message from Berlin says;—" Our victorious annics are nowcutting the fleeing Russians m three sections, hoping thereby to surround the smaller units, with the possibility of capturing hundreds of - thousands, instcfld of mercy thousands. Tlig, Russians aro aba-udoning oxccpfc men. is no sign of a Russian stand, Tho German wedge in tlio north has been driven towards Dvmsk, to-cut off tho. Petrograd line, while another has been driven m east of Brest'Litovsk, to cut oif Moscow. . "It is too early to say whether our next chief offensive will be Petrograd or Odessa. Our first important point is to surround and capture a larce-Wc-tion of the fleeing armies now approaching,the. swamps. Eight of tho Russian fortresses, including,three of the strongest of them, have fallen in three weeks and tho early, fall ot Riga, Lutzk, Grodno, and Vilna would not cause surprise. ' GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. ' ' . r , : a..,/ . , , Amsterdam,. August 31. A uerman official cominuniqu® states: "General von Hindenburg's armiesare proceeding with tlie fighting for the bridgehead south of Friedrichstadt (72 miles east of Mitau). n^t,'," L ?r onm mi " ! ® ' ara Awards tho Grodno-Vilna railway, and law captured zOUO prisonors. ■ . ''Tha enemy liear Grudeck evacuated positions on tho eastern border of tlie xorest of Bialoviosh. ,• . . .-"Prince^ Leopold's Ernies -forced' the crossing of tho Upper Narew in sevora! places. H IS right inng is advancing on Prushany. - - - General von Mackenseh is pursuing 'the enemy,' and 5 has reached £hi> Muchavez region, capturing 3000; of-the Russian rearguards. reae)lefl t)10 ii, 1 a s! an0 c °x? f tie G ? rnla , ll and Austro-Hunganan troops who broke Kt d Brzezanyvhas been stopped at some points 'oil the S try pa, owing to prong Russian counter-attacks."- •'. ' , i. jf*"" AUSTRIAN'OFFICIAL' ■.COMMUNIQUE. (IW. September 1V7.25 p.m.) :t. i , ■ m Amsterdam, September 1. 'An_AKta olcial eommiiMro states: "Wo havo taken prisoner north'. eastward of- Lutzk 1000 men, and captured rplling stock and war material."' GERMANS FIND'; BREST-LITOVSK IN RUINS. rm,. uir • t. . „ ... Amsterdam, August 31. P / oltun ß's" correspondent visited Brest-Litovsk. He ™ the Russians fired the whole town, tho greater part of whicli was burnt down. The ruins are still smouldering. - Th® inner forts and station ?icra wholly destroyed. Only a church, with blue (domes aad golden crosses, remains undamaged 'uudst the destruction. ■\ - ' THE MAILED.'FIST . IN. WARSAW, .m-..n , Amsterdam, August 31. lhe Governor of Warsaw has issued a decree to manufacturers, bankers, and tradesmen threatening to close their businesses and punish with five years' imprisonment any who refuse to tirade with. German subjects.'.'